Apparently I'm dehydrated. I'm was admitted to Victoria General Hospital - spent the day being hydrated, drained of 1 3/4 litres, feeling lighter and feeling better - now home again.
But let the stories continue....
*****
The first time I got on that yellow school bus that stopped at the end of our long driveway, I felt as if I was stepping into another world – and I was ready for it.
Finally, I had finished elementary school and had graduated to grade nine, which meant attending Borden High School, a 14 mile trip from the farm. Because we were picking up students all along the way, it took an hour to get there and back every day - a great party every day.
It was a culture shock right from the start.
The first day our English teacher explained that a movie based on a Shakespearian play was being shown in the Borden Theater downtown. Since this was the last day it was being shown, this was our only chance to see it. "Attending the show would be the first literature lesson," he explained excitedly. Everyone was elated.
I was in shock. I’d just been baptized that summer and in the process had agreed not to attend movies of any kind.
My mind was spinning! Meanwhile the very enthusiastic teacher was herding us out of the classroom, down the hall for a quick washroom break, and then into the bus already waiting for us outside. Even the introductions were going to happen later.
I was numb and speechless; stuck in a herd of people I could not escape without creating a huge scene.
Next thing I knew we were walking into the theater with the usual flashing lights bordering bill board advertising.
I was pushed here and there and into a seat!
I have to say I don’t remember much of the movie. I was very impressed with the huge movie screen, something I had never seen before, but my mind was numb, resisting it all, trying not to take it in. This was all wrong! My inner voice was screaming. I had been taught this was sinful – and yet it didn’t feel that wrong.
I was still in shock when the movie was over, and I was shoved out of my seat like a puppet, just following the crowd. I had no idea what I’d just seen!
For the rest of the day, I couldn't believe that here all these good people had just participated in something I had been taught was so wrong – and yet now seemed so innocent. Guilt was pressing into my conscience! Yet even though I had been trying not to pay attention, I knew it was a good story. I was very confused.
On the bus going home it occurred to me that possibly a movie depicting a school- worthy, literary story was not the same as attending a worldly movie! After all the teacher was a professional.
In the days ahead, the teacher began to unpack the story we had seen in the theatre. The classroom discussions were invigorating and insightful. I loved the story, and my mind began to embrace a new understanding of the power of story.
Finally, I concluded that the church had miscalculated again and called something sinful that wasn’t. I knew my parents would never understand this, so I was glad that I’d decided not to talk about it when I got home.
Literature became my new secret pleasure, and I started to read.
As I opened up to literature, I also grew in admiration of the English teacher who I considered a new safe mentor, Mr. Heinrichs. He seemed to notice me too.
The next story that caught my attention was Les Misérables, a historical novel by Victor Hugo. The novel contained various subplots, but the main thread is the story of ex-convict Jean Valjean who becomes a force for good in the world but cannot escape his criminal past. Loved it. After al it was a story of redemption ....
You can imagine my surprise when the school chose it as their annual drama production and then chose me to play the lead role of Jean Valjean.
Of course, there was another ethical dilemma when the lead character, Jean Valjean, needed to light up a cigarette - against another church rule. The crazy thing was that I had never smoked, nor intended to, yet under the direction of my teacher I was to pretend to light up and go through the motions. It was called acting. With this kind of permission, I could step into character and love it.
I changed that year. I was no longer an artist – I was a performer. And I had discovered a new freedom in story.
But let the stories continue....
*****
The first time I got on that yellow school bus that stopped at the end of our long driveway, I felt as if I was stepping into another world – and I was ready for it.
Finally, I had finished elementary school and had graduated to grade nine, which meant attending Borden High School, a 14 mile trip from the farm. Because we were picking up students all along the way, it took an hour to get there and back every day - a great party every day.
It was a culture shock right from the start.
The first day our English teacher explained that a movie based on a Shakespearian play was being shown in the Borden Theater downtown. Since this was the last day it was being shown, this was our only chance to see it. "Attending the show would be the first literature lesson," he explained excitedly. Everyone was elated.
I was in shock. I’d just been baptized that summer and in the process had agreed not to attend movies of any kind.
My mind was spinning! Meanwhile the very enthusiastic teacher was herding us out of the classroom, down the hall for a quick washroom break, and then into the bus already waiting for us outside. Even the introductions were going to happen later.
I was numb and speechless; stuck in a herd of people I could not escape without creating a huge scene.
Next thing I knew we were walking into the theater with the usual flashing lights bordering bill board advertising.
I was pushed here and there and into a seat!
I have to say I don’t remember much of the movie. I was very impressed with the huge movie screen, something I had never seen before, but my mind was numb, resisting it all, trying not to take it in. This was all wrong! My inner voice was screaming. I had been taught this was sinful – and yet it didn’t feel that wrong.
I was still in shock when the movie was over, and I was shoved out of my seat like a puppet, just following the crowd. I had no idea what I’d just seen!
For the rest of the day, I couldn't believe that here all these good people had just participated in something I had been taught was so wrong – and yet now seemed so innocent. Guilt was pressing into my conscience! Yet even though I had been trying not to pay attention, I knew it was a good story. I was very confused.
On the bus going home it occurred to me that possibly a movie depicting a school- worthy, literary story was not the same as attending a worldly movie! After all the teacher was a professional.
In the days ahead, the teacher began to unpack the story we had seen in the theatre. The classroom discussions were invigorating and insightful. I loved the story, and my mind began to embrace a new understanding of the power of story.
Finally, I concluded that the church had miscalculated again and called something sinful that wasn’t. I knew my parents would never understand this, so I was glad that I’d decided not to talk about it when I got home.
Literature became my new secret pleasure, and I started to read.
As I opened up to literature, I also grew in admiration of the English teacher who I considered a new safe mentor, Mr. Heinrichs. He seemed to notice me too.
The next story that caught my attention was Les Misérables, a historical novel by Victor Hugo. The novel contained various subplots, but the main thread is the story of ex-convict Jean Valjean who becomes a force for good in the world but cannot escape his criminal past. Loved it. After al it was a story of redemption ....
You can imagine my surprise when the school chose it as their annual drama production and then chose me to play the lead role of Jean Valjean.
Of course, there was another ethical dilemma when the lead character, Jean Valjean, needed to light up a cigarette - against another church rule. The crazy thing was that I had never smoked, nor intended to, yet under the direction of my teacher I was to pretend to light up and go through the motions. It was called acting. With this kind of permission, I could step into character and love it.
I changed that year. I was no longer an artist – I was a performer. And I had discovered a new freedom in story.
“We are all storytellers. We all live in a network of stories.
There isn’t a stronger connection between people than storytelling.” - Jimmy Neil Smith
There isn’t a stronger connection between people than storytelling.” - Jimmy Neil Smith
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